US20080176716A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080176716A1
Application number: US12/013,323
Authority: US
Inventors: John P. Boren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-12
Filing date: 2008-01-11
Publication date: 2008-07-24

Abstract

A machine and method for conditioning and strengthening the human frame, and particularly the lumbar muscles of the lower back and pelvic region. The user-controlled machine has a single restraint strap which wraps around the user's pelvic region and connects to both sides of a support structure. The single restraint strap may be positioned high or low about the user's pelvic region while the user faces forward, backward, or sideways relative to the support structure. The user causes the single restraint strap to be drawn tightly about the pelvic region, thereby restraining the pelvic region against the support structure. This isolates the lumbar muscles and permits the user to conduct specific lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises while remaining in an upright position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon provisional application 60/880,338, filed on Jan. 12, 2007, the priority of which is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device or machine for stretching, exercising, and strengthening the human body. Specifically, the invention relates to a device or machine for exercising and strengthening the lumbar muscles while remaining in an upright position.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Weakness of the back muscles, and particularly the lumbar muscles, which are responsible for proper posture, may lead to increasing muscle weakness and even muscle atrophy over time. In order to maintain their strength and conditioning, the lumbar muscles must be exercised through stretching and conditioning.

Prior art devices for stretching and strengthening the human frame, including the lumbar muscles of the lower back, have included numerous medical and non-medical mechanical devices. These mechanical devices include both motorized and non-motorized movement, and employ weight stacks, plyometric resistance and/or gravity to accomplish the goal of stretching, flexing, or strengthening the human frame. Purely medical devices have included over-the-door and power-controlled traction devices, among others, arranged and designed to decompress the spine. Non-medical devices have typically included gym-type stretching equipment including, but not limited to, gravity balls and Pilates machines, arranged and designed to improve flexibility and range of joint motion. However, Pilates equipment, MedX exercise equipment, and other fitness-oriented exercise and stretching units are often uncomfortable, cumbersome, and/or difficult to operate. Furthermore, fitness-oriented exercise and stretching units are not necessarily directed at strengthening and conditioning the user's lumbar muscles.

Among the more common types of prior art devices for stretching and conditioning the human frame are “inversion” devices which operate by inverting the human body. These inversion devices suspend the user in an upside down position by the ankles or knees so that the spine and associated structures that produce vertical pressure while upright can be unloaded and stretched. While inverted, the user may also twist, bend, and otherwise stretch and exercise muscles along the torso, including the lumbar muscles. However, a major drawback of these inversion devices and their method of operation is that the user's cardiovascular system must operate in an abnormal state thus potentially causing the user to feel ill effects from the inversion. Furthermore, typical inversion devices provide little, if any, of the proper back support needed to isolate and safely strengthen and condition the user's lumbar muscles.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,656,098 and 6,749,548 issued to Hoffman disclose a restraint and exercise device comprising a restraint, e.g. two straps, connected to a support structure. The straps help to restrain a portion of a person's body, such as the pelvic region, in a substantially pain-free position so as to reduce the pain that would otherwise be felt during exercise. A ratchet mechanism is used to adjust the tension in the two-strap restraint. However, for a user in pain, mechanical self adjustment of a non-actuated, two-strap restraint can prove difficult, if not impossible.

3. Identification of Objects of the Invention

An object of the invention is to accomplish one or more of the following:

Provide a machine that limits or restrains the movement of the user's pelvic region thereby isolating the lumbar muscles of the lower back for exercise by the user;

Provide a machine, operable by the user without assistance, that limits or restrains the movement of the user's pelvic region while permitting exercise of the torso; and

Provide a machine that limits or restrains the movement of the user's pelvic region without twisting or otherwise radially moving the user's torso.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following specification and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise machine and method are disclosed for stretching and strengthening the human body, particularly the lumbar muscles of the lower back, to enhance postural balance. In the upright position, the movement of the lumbar muscles (i.e., the muscles supporting the lumbar vertebrae) results in simultaneous movement of the pelvis. To effectively exercise the lumbar muscles, they must be isolated by a device or machine which limits or restrains movement of the pelvis. The user-controlled machine limits or restrains movement of the pelvis using a single restraint strap that wraps around the user's pelvic region and connects to the support structure. The single restraint strap may be positioned high or low about the user's pelvic region while the user faces forward or backward relative to the support structure. The machine preferably has a user-controlled, powered actuator which draws the single restraint strap tight around the user's pelvic region thereby restraining the user's pelvic region against the support structure. This isolates the lumbar muscles and permits the user to conduct specific lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises while remaining in an upright position. Thus, the exercise machine enables quick, simple, and safe operation but also permits the user, without the aid of another, to isolate the lumber muscles and perform specific lumbar exercises in an upright position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the drawings which are appended hereto, and wherein by way of illustration, and not limitation, implementations of the invention are described, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a frontal view of a preferred implementation of the exercise machine while not in operation for stretching and strengthening the lumbar muscles of the lower back;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the exercise machine ofFIG. 1 while in operation with the user's pelvic region securely bound to the support structure with a single restraint strap; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an alternative preferred implementation of the exercise machine ofFIGS. 1 and 2 while in operation and with the addition of a user-controlled actuator that tightens or loosens the restraint of the user's pelvic region.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As generally shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred implementation of the invention is a user-controlled, power-actuatedmachine10 which limits or restrains movement of the pelvis.Machine10 comprises avertical support structure20 having avertical contact area22 disposed thereon which is arranged and designed to receive a user's pelvic region when the user stands upright adjacent to thevertical contact area22. Themachine10 uses asingle restraint strap12 which wraps around the user's pelvic region and connects to thevertical support structure20. The user adjusts the vertical height of thesingle restraint strap12 either manually or by controlling a poweredactuator16. The user removes any slack in thesingle restraint strap12 by tighteningstrap12 using a manually-operatedmechanism11 or a user-controlled powered actuator26 (FIG. 3). This draws the user's pelvic region tightly against thevertical contact area22 ofsupport structure20 and frees the user to perform upper body and midsection stretching and conditioning exercises. The user may face forward (as shown inFIG. 1), backward (not shown), or sideways (not shown) relative to thevertical contact area22 ofsupport structure20 while operating themachine10 in order to varyingly exercise the torso, and particularly the lumbar muscles of the lower back.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, thesingle restraint strap12 comprises two

sections

15,17. An end portion of onesection15 ofstrap12 is connected to thevertical support structure20 atconnection point14. Theother section17 ofstrap12 has an end portion that is connected to the opposite side of thesupport structure20 at an analogous connection point (not shown). Alternatively, the two

strap sections

15,17 may share a common connection point (not shown) positioned onsupport structure20. Preferably, the free end portion of strap15 (i.e., the end portion not connection to the support structure20) has a buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener, orother connection device11 which couples with acooperative device13 attached to the free end portion ofstrap17, such that the two

sections

15,17 ofsingle restraint strap12 form a loop with thesupport structure20. The

sections

15,17 of thesingle restraint strap12 are arranged and designed to be of sufficient length to couple about the user's waist or midsection (i.e., have a circumference with thesupport structure20 larger than the user's waist or midsection). Preferably, the buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener, orother connection device11 is arranged and designed with a mechanism to remove any slack in the single restraint strap12 (e.g., as with a car seat buckle) and thereby firmly restrain the user's pelvic region against the support structure during use. While the

sections

15,17 ofsingle restraint strap12 are each shown inFIG. 1 as having some length, alternative implementations may have one of the

sections

15,17 of little to no length such that the buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener, or other connection device11 (or acooperative device13 therewith) are effectively a part of thesupport structure20.

In a preferred implementation, as shown inFIG. 1, the

sections

15,17 of the single restraint strap are arranged and designed to couple near the center of the user's back when in operation. This permits the

sections

15,17 ofsingle restraint strap12 to be connected during use and any slack removed without unduly twisting or rotating the user. It also permits the user to enter and exist themachine10 without having to detach an end portion ofstrap12 from itsrespective connection point14 onsupport structure20. In another preferred implementation (FIG. 3), thesingle restraint strap12 is constructed as a continuing member without sections and has the end portion un-releasably attached to one side of thesupport structure20. The free end portion ofstrap12 may be connected to the opposite side of thesupport structure20 using a buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener or other connection device31 (and acooperative device33 therewith). More preferably, the length of thestrap12 is adjustable after connection using a hook and loop fastener disposed on the free end portion of thestrap12.Padding18 may also be affixed to the single restraint strap12 (i.e., one or both

sections

15,17 thereof) where the strap contacts the user to ensure that thestrap12 does not constrict or cause discomfort to the user while in operation. Similarly, thevertical contact area22 ofsupport structure20 may be padded to ensure that thesupport structure20 does not cause any discomfort to the user when the user's pelvic region becomes restrained thereagainst during operation.

The height of thestrap connection point14 on thesupport structure20 is adjustable so that thesingle restraint strap12 may be positioned high or low about the user's pelvic region while maintaining thesupport strap12 perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the user while themachine10 is in operation. The vertical height of thestrap connection point14 to thesupport structure20 is preferably adjusted using a user-controlled,powered actuator16; however, the height of thestrap connection point14 could easily be adjusted manually in any known manner. As shown inFIG. 1, thesupport structure actuator16 adjusts the vertical height of thestrap connection point14 by raising that portion of the support structure20 (i.e.,

vertical bars

19,24 or similar rigid members) so that thestrap12 properly contacts the user's pelvic region during operation. Actuators and other powered drive mechanisms which move and manipulate physical objects relative to each other are well known in the art and thus will not be discussed at length herein. Likewise, control interfaces for actuators and similar mechanisms, which are operable by the user, are also well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, remote controlled devices, hard wired devices, wireless devices and voice command systems. In one implementation of the invention, the control interface (not shown) for theactuator16 is a push button control panel with a button that controlsactuator16 to raise the vertical height of thestrap connection point14 and another button that controlsactuator16 to lower the vertical height of thestrap connection point14.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, thestrap connection point14 is disposed on avertical bar24 ofsupport structure20. The strap connection point disposed on the opposite side of the support structure (not shown) is similarly disposed on a vertical bar19 (FIG. 1) of thesupport structure20. For illustration purposes, thestrap connection point14 is shown as being disposed on avertical bar24 but may actually be disposed on any rigid member ofsupport structure20. In an alternative preferred implementation, and as shown inFIG. 3, thevertical bar24, or a similar rigid member, is arranged and designed to move horizontally, relative to the vertical support structure, toward or away from a user operating themachine10. Whenstrap12 is coupled around the user and connected to thevertical bar24, movement of thebar24 away from the user tightens the strap about the user and forces the user's pelvic region to become increasingly restrained against thevertical contact area22 ofsupport structure20. Conversely, movement of thebar24 toward the user loosens the strap about the user and reduces the restraint of the user's pelvic region against thevertical contact area22 ofsupport structure20. Astrap actuator26 or similar powered mechanism is connected between thevertical bar24 and thesupport structure20 to provide horizontal movement to thevertical bar24. Preferably, the rigid members (e.g., thevertical bars19,24) to which the end portions ofstrap12 are connected to on both sides of thesupport structure20 are physically connected to each other such that movement of thestrap actuator26 simultaneously moves both

rigid members

19,24 in unison, and therefore both end portions ofstrap12. In this way, the user is tightly restrained against thesupport structure20 by an equal force applied to both end portions ofstrap12 and rotational or radial movement of the user is mitigated.

Preferably, the user controls the operation ofstrap actuator26 while using themachine10. In one implementation of the invention, the control interface (not shown) for thestrap actuator26 is a push button control panel with a button that controlsactuator26 to increase the tautness of thestrap12 about the user and thesupport structure20, as described, and another button that controlsactuator26 to decrease the tautness of thestrap12 about the user and thesupport structure20. Therefore, when the user is positioned upright, againstvertical contact area22, and within the loop formed by thestrap12 and thesupport structure20, activating the button to increase the tautness of thestrap12 draws the user's pelvis toward thesupport structure20, effectively binding the user's pelvis to thesupport structure20. Conversely, when the button is activated to decrease the tautness of thestrap12, the user's pelvis becomes unbound from thesupport structure20.

In an alternative implementation, thesingle restraint strap12 does not have a buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener, orother connection device11 which couples the

sections

15,17 of thesingle restraint strap12 together at a location between connection point of thestrap12 to the two opposing sides ofsupport structure20. Instead, thesingle restraint strap20 is constructed as a continuous member without sections and has its two end portions attachable to the two sides of the support structure20 (as shown inFIG. 3), or alternatively, to a single point (not shown) on thesupport structure20. At least one end portion of thestrap12 is preferably connected through a user controlled, power-actuated drive mechanism (not shown) disposed at astrap connection point14, which controls slack in thestrap12. Operation of the actuator (not shown) tightens or loosens the strap disposed about the user by increasing or decreasing, respectively, the length of the strap relative to the drive mechanism (not shown). In other words, the drive mechanism “pulls” thestrap12 therethrough toward thesupport structure20 or “pushes” the strap therethrough away from thesupport structure20.

As disclosed, the user easily controls, either manually or through apowered actuator26, the degree to which the user's pelvic region is restrained againstsupport structure20. Binding the user's pelvis and/or pelvic region to thesupport structure20 with thesingle restraint strap12 isolates the lumbar muscles and permits the user to conduct specific lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises. Such exercises may include, but are not limited to, rotating and bending the torso about the immobilized pelvic region while in an upright standing position. The user may also perform the exercises, while facing forward, backward, or sideways relative to thesupport structure20. Further still, the user can quickly adjust the vertical height at which thestrap12 is connected to thesupport structure20 with the actuator control (not shown), thereby adjusting up or down the position of thestrap12 about the user's pelvic region in order to vary the targeted area to be exercised. Asafety cord30 or similar safety device (FIG. 2), coupled to thesupport structure20 and preferably constructed of an elastic/resilient material, is provided which fits underneath the user's arms and across the user's back to ensure that the user does not slide out of thesingle restraint strap12 or otherwise become detached from themachine10 while performing lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 3, astrap40, line, cord, rope, chain, or similar device is connected to aweight stack44 through a series of sheaves orpulleys42 disposed onsupport structure20. Thestrap40 preferably has a loop which fits around the user's torso (e.g., under the user's arms and across the user's back), however, other attachment mechanisms may be used. Thestrap40 connected toweight stack44 provides additional upper body resistance to the user while exercising.

In a preferred method of the invention, the user stands upright in front of thesupport structure20 and couples the uncoupled single restraint strap12 (e.g., couples the two

sections

15,17 of strap12) around the pelvic area and to thesupport structure20. The user next adjusts the vertical height of thestrap connection point14 and thus thestrap12 by pressing the appropriate control button (not shown) to raise or lower thestrap using actuator16. The user controls theactuator16 until thestrap12 is raised to the desired height in comparison to the user's pelvic region. With thestrap12 wrapped around the user perpendicularly to thesupport structure20, the user then removes any slack in thestrap12 either by tighteningstrap12 using the mechanism ofconnection device11 or by operatingstrap actuator26 thereby drawing the user's pelvis toward thesupport structure20.

Once the user's pelvis is secured to thesupport structure20, the user places thesafety cord30, strap, or similar device underneath the user's arms and across the user's back to ensure that the user does not slide out of thesingle restraint strap12 or otherwise become detached from themachine10 while performing lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises. Alternatively, the user disposes strap40 (connected to weight stack44) around her torso in order to provide additional upper body weighted resistance while exercising. The user may then perform stretching and conditioning exercises by bending and/or rotating the upper body about the restrained pelvis region. If thesingle restraint strap12 is or becomes too tight about the user's midsection, the user may at any time loosen thestrap12 using the mechanism ofconnection device11 or by operatingstrap actuator26. Conversely, if thesingle restraint strap12 is or become too loose while performing the lumbar conditioning and strengthening exercises, then the user may at any time tightenstrap12 by usingconnection device11 or by operatingstrap actuator26. After the user has fully exercised the isolated lumbar muscles, the user simply loosens thesingle restraint strap12 by using the mechanism ofconnection device11 or by operatingstrap actuator26. The user then unhooks, uncouples, or similarly unfastens thestrap12 to be released from themachine10. The advantages of thismachine10 over prior art devices include, but are not limited to, its ease of use, its versatility and its ability to change the area or position to be exercised quickly with minimal effort.

The Abstract of the disclosure is written solely for providing the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public at large with a means by which to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure, and it represents one implementation of the invention and is not indicative of the nature of the invention as a whole.

While some embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in detail, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown; modifications and adaptations of the above embodiment may occur to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and adaptations are in the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein:

Claims

1. An exercise machine (10) for stretching the human body comprising,

a vertical support structure (20) arranged and designed with a vertical contact area (22) to receive a user's pelvic region thereagainst when a user stands upright adjacent to said support structure, said vertical contact area having two vertical sides;

a single restraint strap (12) having two end portions with one end portion un-releasably connected to a moveably disposed first member (19) of said support structure positioned adjacent to one vertical side of said vertical contact area and with another end portion un-releasably connected to a moveably disposed second member (24) of said support structure positioned adjacent to another vertical side of said vertical contact area, said single restraint strap comprising two sections (15,17) which couple using a coupling mechanism (11,13) at a position along said strap between said first and second members; said two sections of said single restraint strap being arranged and designed to couple around a user's pelvic region when a user stands upright adjacent to said support structure; and

a support structure actuator (16) connected adjacent to said first and second members and arranged and designed to adjust a vertical height of said first and second members of said support structure by vertically moving said first and second members, said vertical movement of said first and second members also vertically moving said single restraint strap relative to said support structure and to a user when a user stands upright adjacent thereto by moving the two end portions of said single restraint strap;

whereby, when a user stands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of said support structure and couples said two sections of said single restraint strap around said user's pelvic region, said user's pelvic region is restrained against said vertical contact area of said support structure by said single restraint strap at said vertical height adjusted by said support structure actuator.

2. The machine ofclaim 1 further comprising,

a strap actuator (26) connected adjacent to said first and second members and arranged and designed to horizontally move said first and second members of said support structure; said horizontal movement of said first and second members also horizontally moving said two end portions of said single restraint strap relative to a user when a user is standing upright adjacent to said support structure;

whereby, when a user stands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of said support structure and couples said two sections of said single restraint strap around said user's pelvic region, said user's pelvic region is tightly restrained against said vertical contact area when said first and second members are moved horizontally away from said user.

3. The machine ofclaim 2 wherein,

said first and second members are adjacently connected to each other.

4. The machine ofclaim 2 wherein,

said strap actuator is arranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine.

5. The machine ofclaim 1 wherein,

said first and second members are adjacently connected to each other.

6. The machine ofclaim 1 further comprising,

a weight bearing arrangement comprising a strap (40), a sheave (42), and a weight (44), said strap arranged and designed to be disposed about a user's torso and to connect to said weight through said sheave positioned on said support structure above said vertical contact area such that weighted resistance is applied to said user's torso.

7. The machine ofclaim 1 further comprising,

a safety cord having two end portions, said first end portion being coupled to said support structure above said vertical contact area and said second end portion arranged and designed to be disposed about a user's torso.

8. The machine ofclaim 1 wherein,

said support structure actuator is arranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine.

9. The machine ofclaim 1 wherein,

said coupling mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastener.

10. An exercise machine (10) for stretching the human body comprising,

a single restraint strap (12) having two end portions with one end portion un-releasably connected to a moveably disposed first member (19) of said support structure positioned adjacent to one vertical side of said vertical contact area and with another end portion releasably connectable to a moveably disposed second member (24) of said support structure positioned adjacent to another vertical side of said vertical contact area; said single restraint strap being arranged and designed to be disposed around a user's pelvic region when a user stands upright adjacent to said support structure; and

a support structure actuator (16) connected adjacent to said first and second members and arranged and designed to adjust a vertical height of said first and second members of said support structure by vertically moving said first and second members, said vertical movement of said first and second members also vertically moving said single restraint strap relative to said support structure and to a user when a user stands upright adjacent thereto by moving the two connected end portions of said single restraint strap;

whereby, when a user stands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of said support structure and connects said releasably connectable end portion of said single restraint strap around said user's pelvic region and to said second member, said user's pelvic region is restrained against said vertical contact area of said support structure by said single restraint strap at said vertical height adjusted by said support structure actuator.

11. The machine ofclaim 10 further comprising,

a strap actuator (26) connected adjacent to said first and second members and arranged and designed to horizontally move said first and second members of said support structure; said horizontal movement of said first and second members also horizontally moving said two end portions of said single restraint strap relative to a user when a user stands upright adjacent to said support structure;

whereby, when a user stands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of said support structure and connects said releasably connectable end portion of said single restraint strap around said user's pelvic region and to said second member, said user's pelvic region is tightly restrained against said vertical contact area when said first and second members are moved horizontally away from said user.

12. The machine ofclaim 11 wherein,

said first and second members are adjacently connected to each other.

13. The machine ofclaim 11 wherein,

14. The machine ofclaim 10 wherein,

said first and second members are adjacently connected to each other.

15. The machine ofclaim 10 further comprising,

16. The machine ofclaim 10 further comprising,

17. The machine ofclaim 10 wherein,

18. The machine ofclaim 10 wherein,

said releasably connectable end portion of said single restraint strap connects to said moveably disposed second member of said support structure using a hook and loop fastener.

19. An exercise method for stretching the human body comprising the steps of,

standing a user upright adjacent to a vertical contact area (22) of a vertical support structure (20), said vertical contact area arranged and designed to receive a user's pelvic region and having two vertical sides;

disposing a single restraining strap (12) around said user's pelvic region, said single restraining strap having two end portions;

releasably connecting said first end portion to a moveably disposed first member (24) of said support structure positioned adjacent to one vertical side of said vertical contact area, said second end portion being un-releasably connected to a moveably disposed second member (19) of said support structure positioned adjacent to another vertical side of said vertical contact area;

controlling a support structure actuator (16) connected adjacent to said first and second members to vertically move said single restraint strap to a desired vertical height relative to said user; and

controlling a support structure actuator (26) connected adjacent to said first and second members to horizontally move said first and second members and said first and second end portions connected thereto away from said user, thereby tightly restraining said user's pelvic region against said vertical contact area at said desired vertical height.

20. The exercise method ofclaim 19 wherein,

said controlling steps are performed by said user while using said machine.